16 captures
02 Mar 2012 - 03 Dec 2024
Feb
MAR
Apr
02
2011
2012
2013
success
fail
About this capture
TIMESTAMPS
The Wayback Machine - https://web.archive.org/web/20120302232107/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1968/1968%20-%201196.html
FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1968
1968 - 1196.PDF
The second of two DC-8-6IFs (N802U) operated on lease by Capitol International. The first, N80IU, has made several appearances at Gatwick on transatlantic charters. Capitol also operates three DCSFs and two DC-8-30s and has two DC-8-63Fs on order AIR TRANSPORT... CTMs per employee. In 1967-68 our staff members were geared up to catering for a level of traffic which did not materialise and so we cut capacity where we could, but we did not cut our staff... this is an extremely marginal business and, unless productivity improves, more drastic measures might become necessary to preserve financial integrity of BEA's operations. We have paid our way for years with considerable pride and none of us intends to allow BEA to become a burden on the taxpayer, though it is clear that our industry is going through a difficult period for a year or two. Losses will be avoided if we all work together for the good name and satisfaction, not only of BEA, but of ourselves as individuals ..." MORE ONE-ELEVENS FOR AUTAIR AN order for two more BAC One-Eleven 400s has now been placed by Autair International Airways of Luton Airport for delivery in February and April next year. This order, bringing to five the number of One-Elevens operated, or to be operated, was forecast (see Flight for June 27, page 948) in the annual report of Court Line, of which Autair is a wholly owned subsidiary. The independent airline's investment in jets will, when these two additional aircraft have been delivered, total some £8 million. The first two One-Elevens were ordered in February 1967 and a third in November; all three are now in service, mostly on inclusive-tour work in co-operation with Clarksons Tours, and the two additional aircraft will also be used on IT work in next year's expanded programme. Autair plans to replace the 400s (actually 416s, to use the customer designation) with series 500s in 1970. Of the 48 separate orders so far received for One-Elevens, 20 have been repeats. BKS CRASH: FATIGUE-FAILURE COMPLETE fatigue-failure of the main attachment of the port flap actuating rod to the flap operating jack was the cause of the accident to BKS Ambassador G-AMAD on July 3. The aircraft was one of two BKS Ambassadors which have been specially converted for carrying horses—at the rate of 6,000 animals a year. The three crew and three of the five grooms aboard were killed, as were the eight horses. The likely sequence of events was that when full flap was selected for landing on Heathrow's 28R the starboard flap was lowered to its fullest extent but at some stage the port flap mechanism broke and the flap returned to its retracted position. The aircraft must have then been at a very low height because marks and pieces of a navigation light have been found near 28R, which indicate that the port wing touched the ground there. The wing drop would have been sudden and severe as, at the low airspeed involved, the port wing would be in a semi- stalled condition while the starboard wing was developing considerable lift. Increasing engine power would prevent the aircraft from stalling completely, but unless the starboard flap had been retracted also (with a consequent temporary loss of height) the asymmetric lift would have proved too much for the aileron and rudder control available. It appears that the crew, given a little more time, could have retrieved the situation, but the presence of parked aircraft and buildings in their path decided their fate. The Ambassador took the fin off BEA Trident G-ARPI and then sliced the complete tail section from Trident G-ARPT, which is a write- off. The impact with the second Trident caused the Ambassador to cartwheel and it slid inverted into the front of the newly built No 1 Terminal where there was an explosion. The only fortunate aspect of the accident was that both Tridents and the terminal building were virtually deserted at the time. Three workers in the terminal building were injured. The Board of Trade statement on July 4, which gave the news of the flap-mechanism failure, said that "the ARB has instructed all operators of Ambassador aircraft to carry out immediate inspection for fatigue cracks in the relevant com- ponents. No public flights will be made until this is done." Of the remaining Ambassadors in public transport service, BKS has one other converted for freighting horses (named, ironically, after the engineer who died in G-AMAD, Mr J. C. Moody) and have three in storage. Autair has two and Dan- Air has six. BEA bought the original 20 Ambassadors, operating them under the fleet name of Elizabethan. Capt Ernest Hand, who was in command of the aircraft, had some 7,000hr on the type and was one of the company's most senior pilots. UNCERTAINTY IN CANADA CONSIDERABLE changes are likely in thd near future for Canada's State-owned carrier. Air Canada—now, as already reported, operating under the temporary leadership of Mr N. J. MacMillan, president and chairman of the airline's owner, Canadian National Railways—needs a new president and considerable domestic controversy has arisen over the delay in appointment of a replacement for Mr G. R. McGregor. He left the airline on May 31. but last week there was still no hint from the Federal Government as to who will be selected. As already explained (see Flight for June 13, page 881). Mr McGregor, with the backing of his board, urged the Government to name as president the airline's executive vice- president. Mr H. W. Seagrim, who had been groomed for some years as heir-apparent. Various other names have been mentioned in connection with the vacancy, including those of the Deputy Minister of Transport and Mr R. G. Lefrancois. president of Nordair. The Govern- ment is, however, reluctant to name a politician or civil servant because of the unfavourable publicity received by the previous Minister of Transport when he retired from the Government
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
